Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** this project aims todevelop a…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** this project aims todevelop a color-changing glass glazing material for greenhouses that will impact greenhouse farmers by improving crop yields and quality. The technology has been proven already in plastic greenhouse coverings. Based on non-toxic nanocrystals called quantum dots (QDS) developed at LOS alamos national laboratory, these glazing materials glow orange or red, such that the color spectrum of sunlight is improved inside the grenehouse. The project objectives for this phase I project are: 1) develop glowing (PHOTOLUMINESCENT) laminated glass prototypes that optimize the spectrum of sunlight for increased yields for glass greenhouse growers and 2) quantify the yield improvements due to the modified spectrum for greenhouse-grown lettuce, a crop increasingly grown in controlled environments in the US.if successful, the plant study and prototype development conducted in phase I will demonstrate improved crop yields under the enhanced agricultural glass and offer greenhouse growers an alternative for yield enhancement to expensive and electricity-consuming supplemental lighting options. A successful phase I project will serve as a foundation for phase II-III efforts, where the color-changing glass products can be scaled to meet the large greenhouse demand ($21B market in 2017, where 30% of U.S. Greenhouses are of glass construction) and become a commercial product. Through its yield improvements, the QD-glass products will enhance commercial greenhouse horticulture production in the U.S.